The West Wasn’t Won On A Salad

One of my favorite bumper stickers reads, “Because The West Wasn’t Won On A Salad, Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.” Aside from taking a jab at vegetarians, the slogan conjures up images of old Western tales -- cowboys driving cattle on the range, covered wagons headed to California in the quest for gold, a soldier patrolling his post, and a settler staking out a plot of land on which he’ll attempt to wrest a crop from the unforgiving Plains.

U.S. history is rich with stories of dreamers who were brave enough to pursue their own idea of happiness -- whether it was mining for gold, raising cattle or owning a store in a developing town along the wagon trail headed west.

I’m guessing our founding fathers couldn’t have predicted that one day Americans would be quibbling about how to regulate dust or that children shouldn’t be allowed to work on a farm or ranch. I bet they would be shocked at the political mudslinging that’s well underway leading up to this 2012 presidential election. Would they be disappointed to see America today?

From the first settlers to reach America’s borders to the next generation of kids being born in 2012, one thing remains the same for every citizen of the U.S. -- we have the freedom to pursue happiness, in whatever manner we choose. We can speak our mind, pray to our own God and live without fear of persecution because of our race, sex, beliefs or ideas. We are free.

God Bless America this Independence Day! Wishing all of you a happy, healthy holiday. How are you celebrating America today and through the rest of the week?